National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Rocky Mountain National Park Geologic Resource Evaluation Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2004/004 THIS PAGE: Ypsilon Mountain, Rocky Mountain NP. ON THE COVER: Alpine Tundra looking west to the Never Summer Range, Rocky Mountain NP Photos by: NPS and Josh Heise Rocky Mountain National Park Geologic Resource Evaluation Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2004/004 Geologic Resources Division Natural Resource Program Center P.O. Box 25287 Denver, Colorado 80225 September 2004 U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Natural Resource Publication series addresses natural resource topics that are of interest and applicability to a broad readership in the National Park Service and to others in the management of natural resources, including the scientific community, the public, and the NPS conservation and environmental constituencies. Manuscripts are peer-reviewed to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and is designed and published in a professional manner. Natural Resource Reports are the designated medium for disseminating high priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. Examples of the diverse array of reports published in this series include vital signs monitoring plans; "how to" resource management papers; proceedings of resource management workshops or conferences; annual reports of resource programs or divisions of the Natural Resource Program Center; resource action plans; fact sheets; and regularly-published newsletters. Views and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect policies of the National Park Service. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the National Park Service. Printed copies of reports in these series may be produced in a limited quantity and they are only available as long as the supply lasts. This report is also available from the Geologic Resource Evaluation Program website (http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/inventory/ gre_publications) on the internet, or by sending a request to the address on the back cover. Please cite this publication as: KellerLynn, K. 2004. Rocky Mountain National Park Geologic Resource Evaluation Report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2004/004. National Park Service, Denver, Colorado. NPS D-307, September 2004 Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... 1 Dedication and Acknowledgements............................................................................ 2 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose of the Geologic Resources Evaluation Program...........................................................................................3 Geologic Setting .........................................................................................................................................................3 Geologic Issues............................................................................................................. 5 Alpine Environments...................................................................................................................................................5 Flooding......................................................................................................................................................................5 Hydrogeology .............................................................................................................................................................6 Mass Wasting.............................................................................................................................................................7 Minerals and Mining ...................................................................................................................................................8 Seismicity ...................................................................................................................................................................9 Water Diversion Projects ..........................................................................................................................................10 Wind-Blown Sediment ..............................................................................................................................................10 Potential Research, Inventory, and Monitoring Projects ...........................................................................................11 Geologic Features and Processes............................................................................. 14 Colorado River..........................................................................................................................................................14 Columnar Jointing.....................................................................................................................................................14 Exfoliation Domes and Ornate Erosion Features......................................................................................................14 Glacial Features .......................................................................................................................................................14 Glaciers ....................................................................................................................................................................15 Lakes........................................................................................................................................................................16 Meandering Streams ................................................................................................................................................16 Patterned Ground .....................................................................................................................................................16 Sackung ...................................................................................................................................................................17 Solifluction ................................................................................................................................................................17 Tors ..........................................................................................................................................................................17 Uplifted Erosion Surface...........................................................................................................................................17 Formation Properties.................................................................................................. 19 Formation Properties Table ......................................................................................................................................20 Geologic History.......................................................................................................... 23 References Cited......................................................................................................... 26 Appendix A: Geologic Map Graphic .......................................................................... 30 Appendix B: Evaluation of Comprehensive Interpretive Plan (2001)...................... 31 Attachment 1: Digital Geologic Map (CD) ROMO Geologic Resource Evaluation Report iii iv NPS Geologic Resources Division Executive Summary The geologic features of Rocky Mountain National Park have long been under the careful scrutiny of many geologists. From their studies a great deal is known of the history, which is full of interesting events and shifting scenes. The park’s long geologic story continues today with geologic processes changing the present landscape. Three compelling stories encapsulate the nearly two- hydrogeology more water diversion projects than all billion- year- old history of the park. The first story takes other national parks combined. place during Precambrian time. This tale highlights the themes of “deep time” and understanding the origins of Although addressed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, an our physical surroundings, and perhaps our place in the understanding of the park’s mining history is important world. The ancient metamorphic and igneous rocks— for resource protection and visitor safety. Managers have most of which are between 1.4 and 1.7 billion years old— gated mine openings with bat- friendly (not visitor- in the park serve as a physical backdrop for this story. friendly) entrances, but an awareness of the locations of minerals (and possibly fossils) is important for resource The second story is much more recent. Between 23 and protection. 29 million years ago, during the Oligocene Epoch the park was the scene of widespread volcanic activity. As Park managers may also wish to take note of areas uplift of the region continued throughout the Tertiary susceptible to mass wasting, including